HIPAA, or Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, is a United States law enacted in 1996 designed to protect the privacy and security of individuals’ medical information. HIPAA sets national standards for the handling of protected health information (PHI) by healthcare providers, insurers, and their business associates. Key provisions include the Privacy Rule, which establishes rights for individuals over their health information, and the Security Rule, which requires administrative, physical, and technical safeguards to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of electronic PHI. Compliance with HIPAA helps to ensure that sensitive health data is properly protected from unauthorized access and breaches.